‘Police would ask the public to remain alert, but not alarmed, and to ask parents to continue to remind their children of the “stranger danger” message and to report any incidents to us.’

Emsworth ward councillor Richard Galloway said: ‘I’m sure the police will be doing everything they can to catch the perpetrator.

‘It’s a horrible thing to happen, especially at this time of year.

‘Emsworth is a very safe place. I have not come across anything like this since I have been a councillor.’

The man who attempted to abduct the girl has tanned skin, is aged in his 40s and is 6ft tall with a round face, blue eyes and short, thick black hair. He has a recent scratch on his lift cheek and spoke with a northern accent.

The man wore a thick, black coat down to his knees, light blue jeans and muddy, steel toe-capped boots.

In the second incident the man was tanned and in his late 40s. He wore jeans with a hole in the knee and black boots.

The van was dark red with a sliding back door and blacked-out windows.